Citation

Blasco-Fontecilla H, Baca-Garcia E, Duberstein P, Pérez-Rodríguez MM, Dervic K, Saiz-Ruiz J, Courtet P, De Leon J, Oquendo MA. J. Personal. Disord. 2010; 24(6): 773-784.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Guilford Publications)

DOI

10.1521/pedi.2010.24.6.773

PMID

21158599

PMCID

PMC3057651

Abstract

Personality disorder (PD) increases risk for suicidal behavior. Certain life events (LE) can precipitate suicidal behaviors in patients with PD. A fundamental question is whether specific combinations of LE and PD increase suicidal risk. Four hundred forty-six suicide attempters (SA) were recruited from emergency rooms. We used a healthy control group (n = 515) to identify the best cut-off point for the instrument used to diagnose PD. We used the DSM-IV version of the International Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Screening Questionnaire, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and the Social Adjustment Scale to assess PD, Axis I disorders, and LE, respectively. After controlling for Axis I disorders, we found that "Death of spouse" preceded suicidal acts in those with antisocial PD (FET p = 0.024) and patients with narcissistic PD attempted suicide after being Fired at work (FET p = 0.002), among others. Our data suggest the presence of particular LE-PD associations in suicide attempters. Some LE-PD relationships appear independent of Axis I disorders in suicide attempters. This may offer a basis for specific targeted therapies or prevention programs aimed at decreasing suicidal risk.

Language: en